Lessons From Lincoln

Between Christmas and the beginning of the New Year we saw the movie Lincoln.  The movie is based on the book Team of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin, an historian.  Steven Spielberg’s movie is historical fiction.  That means that he had to spice it up a little bit to make it more exciting than just history. 

We loved the movie.

It was a movie of dialogue.  It didn’t try to keep your interest with action, or relational suspense. 

Without getting tripped up on what was historical and what was fiction, here are some observations from the movie.

 1.     Personal convictions clash with public policy, but we need to hang in there with our personal convictions.  Lincoln was convinced that slavery was wrong, inhumane and ran against God’s desires.  “All men are created equal”…all men, regardless of race, color or creed.  This was Lincoln’s conviction and he fought for it in spite of unpopularity, threats and attempts at political blackmail.

2.     It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable; to be divided, but not divisive.  This would be a lesson we could keep in mind today.  We are displaying less and less ability to disagree with one another without it being divisive.  Certainly there were different sides to the slavery debate.  Some felt strongly about the issue on both sides.  It was divisive.  But there were people on both sides of the issue that could disagree without being disagreeable.  Slavery didn’t have to be divisive.  They could see things differently and still be friends, get along, support one another. This is the model of Jesus.  It is important for Christ followers to be able to disagree with one another, but not see each other as the enemy. 

3.     When we are passionate about something it requires energy, effort, multiple conversations, listening and sometimes compromise.  Any married couple knows this.  Lincoln was tireless in his efforts to get the 13^th amendment passed. 

4.     Leaders have personal lives that weigh on them as well as their public lives.  The movie portrayed Lincoln and his wife raising a young son in the White House and a young adult son who was wrestling with his future. Mrs. Lincoln had some “mental health issues” that made life difficult for the President.  We sometimes forget that the job of leaders place demands on them 24/7, and they also have husbands, or wives and children that demand their attention and their emotional energy.

5.     The nation was able to function without computers, the internet, email, Facebook, Twitter, or 24/7 news coverage.   Can you imagine?

Movies can give you lots of food for thought.